Question

How could Apple use collaborative forecasting with its suppliers to improve its supply chain?

Answer 1

The decisions made at Apple have a significant impact, often well beyond the company itself, which is why the detailed contributions of forecasting are so critical. Timely and actionable insights help solve complex business problems across multiple areas of operations. Methods include critical reporting, ad hoc analytics, and advanced analytics/machine learning. Areas of work include Customer Engagement, Supply Chain Optimization, Product Quality, Operations Execution and Fraud Detection, and Sales Channel Program Analytics.

Apple is all about the customer experience, even in ways customers may not notice. Analysts is responsible for keeping things humming as finished products move through our supply chain and sales channels. Work cross-functionally with other Apple teams to come up with ways to improve processes, such as making it simple for customers to order a product online and pick it up in a store. Areas of work include Project Management.

Develop demand forecasts that support numerous key activities at Apple, ranging from corporate P&L forecasting and planning to daily factory builds and customer-level allocation. The supply plans drive manufacturing capacity and materials purchase requirements for this week through next year. In preparing for a new product introduction (NPI) apple ensures that customers receive our products when promised through all channels of sales. Areas of work include Supply and Demand Management, Reseller Operations Management, and New Product Readiness.

Apple’s products in the hands of its customers in the fastest and most efficient manner possible. Managing global systems, processes, and negotiations that create an efficient and low-cost supply chain while providing an exceptional customer experience. Areas of work include Procurement, Logistics Operations, Loss Prevention, and Supply Chain Analytics.

Apple products are made with revolutionary precision to perform exactly as promised. And because customers all over the world eagerly await that experience, they built a supply chain that’s equally revolutionary.